Sometimes here at Being Smarter, we do take a break and today is one of
those days – one eye on the cricket score – one eye on the laptop. To
celebrate the start of the 2nd test at the home of cricket, we thought we’d
assemble some facts for the pub tonight…
Did you know…
1) In the 4th Test in Sydney in the 1882/83 Ashes series, the captains
agreed to play on separate pitches. This was the only occasion this has
happened in the history in the Ashes. Australia won this match by 4 wickets.
2) Ian Johnson, Australian captain tried to get the umpires to suspend play
because of the sawdust on the damp pitch which blew into his eyes while he
batted (bless)? Jim Laker went on to pulverise the Australians by getting
19-90.
3) The 3rd test in 1970/71 was completely washed out by the British summer
however the toss was completed and won by England and so the Test was deemed
to have commenced…
4) Sir Don Bradman’s batting average in Ashes tests was 89.79… not bad
huh? Sir Don scored 5028 runs with 12 fifties and 19 hundreds with a highest
score of 334.
5) England have not won an Ashes Test at Lords since 1934.
6) The teams have played 64 Ashes series. Australia have won 31, England 28
and five have been drawn. Overall in 317 tests, Australia have won 131,
England 97 and 89 have been drawn.
7) The words on the original Ashes cup reads as follows :
When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn;
Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return;
The welkin will ring loud,
The great crowd will feel proud,
Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn;
And the rest coming home with the urn.
Short of words in 1882 me thinks.
8 The highest innings score by Australia in an Ashes series is 729 for 6
declared at Lords in 1930, while their second best test innings total
against England is 701 at the Oval.
9) For England, Sir Leonard Hutton’s 364 helped them reach 903 for 7
declared (the 2nd highest Innings score by any country) at the Oval, and the
test victory by an innings and 578 runs – the biggest test win margin for
any country against anyone.
10) Shane Warne, is the highest wicket taker in an Ashes series. Warne has
172 wickets from 31 Ashes matches at an average of 22.30.
11) A bonus fact – England are going to win the 2009 2nd Test by 3
wickets… you heard it here first.
Why not add one below?
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